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2016 Subaru WRX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
44% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Subaru WRX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 54% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 2 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 41%).
Does the 2016 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 14 of 32 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru WRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (44%), and the largest group is filed under engine (9). For comparison, the 2015 scores 71% and the 2017 scores 51%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Subaru WRX years
Of the 6 Subaru WRX years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the best on engine and transmission share (44%). The worst is the 2015 (71%). By volume, the 2016 drew 34 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 55 for the 2015 and 53 for the 2017.
Subaru WRX years to avoid and best years →
2015 WRX problems · 2016 · 2017 WRX problems · 2018 WRX problems · 2019 WRX problems · 2022 WRX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Subaru WRX
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Subaru WRX engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Subaru WRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Subaru WRX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Subaru WRX
Does the 2016 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 14 of 32 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru WRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (44%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Subaru WRX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Subaru WRX is electrical system: 10 of 34 complaints (29%) name it, followed by engine (9) and power train (4). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 44% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Subaru WRX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 44% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 54% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Subaru WRX years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Subaru WRX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Subaru WRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 16V162000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru WRX years are better?
The 2016 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Subaru WRX years we track (44%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-wrx
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.